Fast, concise facts and information about Saint Edmund the Martyr The following provides fast and concise facts and information: - The patron of England
- Born: 962
- Memorial Day / Feast Day: November 20th
- Date of Death: Saint Edmund died in A.D. 978
- Cause of Death: Shot by arrows then beheaded
Who or what is Saint Edmund the patron saint of? Saint Edmund is the patron of England. Meanings, definition and origins - a patron is considered to be a defender of a specific group of people or of a nation. There is a patron for virtually every cause, profession or special interest. Prayers are considered more likely to be answered by asking a patron for intercession on their behalf. The Story and History of Saint Edmund The story and history of Saint Edmund. Edmund the Martyr was one of the Wessex line of Kings descended from Alfred the Great. He reigned from 975-978. St. Edmund, King and Martyr was slain by the Danes with arrows in the church at Thetford, Norfolk, and afterwards beheaded. The king was buried in the church of the monastery which received the name of Bury St. Edmunds, in his honour. Death of Saint Edmund There are two categories of saints: martyrs and confessors. A Christian martyr is regarded as one who is put to death for his Christian faith or convictions. Confessors are people who died natural deaths. Date of Death: Saint Edmund died in A.D. 978. Cause of Death: Shot by arrows then beheaded. Why is Saint Edmund the patron of England? Why is Saint Edmund is the patron of England? Saint Edmund was revered as the Patron Saint of England by the Anglo Saxons before the Norman Invasion of 1066. Saint George was the saint favored by the Normans due to the image conveyed by St. George of the brave knight and saviour of the people which fitted well the political climate and the era of the Holy crusades. How Saint Edmund is represented in Christian Art It is helpful to be able to recognise Saint Edmund in paintings, stained glass windows, illuminated manuscripts, architecture and other forms of Christian art. The artistic representations reflect the life or death of saints, or an aspect of life with which the person is most closely associated. Saint Edmund is represented in Christian Art with an arrow in his hand, and often with a grey wolf crouching at his side, because, according to the legend, when the Christians were searching for his body they found a grey wolf watching over his severed head.
Feast Day of Saint Edmund The Feast Day of Saint Edmund is November 20th. The origin of Feast Days: most saints have specially designated feast days and are associated with a specific day of the year and these are referred to as the saint's feast day. The feast days first arose from the very early Christian custom of the annual commemoration of martyrs on the dates of their deaths at the same time celebrating their birth into heaven. |